Social aid organizations in Kyaukphyu Township had plans to gather donations aimed at providing assistance to townships severely impacted by Cyclone Mocha in Rakhine State, but their proposal was turned down by the Township General Administration Office, which operates under the authority of the Military Council.
Although Kyaukphyu was initially anticipated to be in the storm's path, the impact of Cyclone Mocha on the town turned out to be relatively minimal.
On May 21st, a meeting was convened by over 30 social aid organizations and philanthropists based in Kyaukphyu. During the gathering, it was collectively decided that they would launch an initiative to collect donations within their town, with the aim of providing support to the townships in Rakhine State that were severely affected by the storm.
"We submitted a proposal to the Township General Administration Office to initiate the collection of donations following the decision made during our meeting. However, we were informed by the authorities that Kyaukphyu Township is classified as a red-level area impacted by the cyclone. As a result, they expressed their inability to permit public donation drives. Additionally, they mentioned having a comprehensive list detailing the extent of the damage caused by Cyclone Mocha in Kyaukphyu”, a social activist from Kyaukphyu told Narinjara.
The initiative to establish a temporary donation center in Kyaukphyu and gather donations has unfortunately been called off due to the absence of authorization from the Military Council.
"The plan to collect donations had to be scrapped as we were not granted permission by the government (Military Council). It is important to obey the authorities’ decision and not engage in activities without their approval. Our existing social aid initiatives could be adversely affected if any issues arose. This could potentially lead to hardships and inconveniences for others. Taking all aspects of the situation into account, we made the decision to withdraw our plan and refrain from its implementation”, the aforementioned individual explained.
Based on records obtained from the Township General Administration Office, over 2500 buildings, including educational facilities, offices, religious structures, and residential properties, suffered extensive damage in Kyaukphyu as a result of Cyclone Mocha.
On May 14th, Cyclone Mocha struck the northern coast of Rakhine State, resulting in significant devastation across multiple townships including Sittwe, Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw, Rathedaung, Maungdaw, and Pauktaw. The cyclone inflicted extensive damage to numerous buildings and tragically caused loss of life among both humans and livestock.
Despite twelve days passing since the cyclone struck, the impacted individuals in Rakhine State have yet to receive essential assistance such as food, clean drinking water, shelter, and medical aid. Furthermore, a number of people are experiencing severe psychological distress and are in urgent need of support and treatment.
